Environmental Rules in Miami, FL (2026)
5 verified environmental rules for Miami, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Miami charges every developed lot a monthly stormwater utility fee: a $7.00 base rate per equivalent residential unit, rising $0.50 each year, with nonresidential parcels billed by impervious area.
Miami Stormwater Utility Fee
Some RestrictionsMiami Code of Ordinances § 18-294
(1)The rates to be charged for stormwater management for each residence or dwelling unit shall be the base rate per month in the amount of $7.00.(2)The rates to be charged for nonresidential properties, i.e., all occupancies other than provided for in subsection (1) of this section, shall be the rate established in subsection (1) (the current base rate per month) multiplied by the number of equ...
Erosion Control
Miami requires a fill permit from the resilience and public works department before grading land that sits two feet or more below the county design grade over 10,000 square feet or more, and before any building permit issues.
Miami Fill Permit for Land Grading
Some RestrictionsMiami Code of Ordinances § 29-1(b)
A fill permit issued by the resilience and public works department shall be required when the elevation of the land to be filled is two feet or more below the design grade established by the county and the areas to be filled consist of 10,000 square feet or more. On land requiring a fill permit, the application for a building permit shall not be made before the fill permit is obtained. The fact...
Flood Zones
The City of Miami has extensive FEMA flood zones due to coastal exposure, Biscayne Bay, and low elevation. Chapter 11 of the city code addresses flood damage prevention. Sea level rise and King Tides cause increasing seasonal flooding.
Miami Flood Zone Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsFEMA Flood Maps — National Flood Insurance Program
Flood Maps: Floods are unpredictable. Because flood risk is always changing, communities use tools to understand their risk and take actions to protect their families, homes and businesses. ... Flood maps are one tool that communities use to know which areas have the highest risk of flooding. FEMA maintains and updates data through flood maps and risk assessments. Flood maps show how likely it ...
Boat Dock Permits
Miami requires a building department permit before constructing, reconstructing, or repairing any dock, pier, seawall, or bulkhead, with fees running $300 plus 2% of construction cost and quadruple penalties for unpermitted work.
Miami Boat Dock Permits: Chapter 29 Rules
Some RestrictionsMiami Code of Ordinances § 29-83
No waterfront improvement or structure shall be constructed, reconstructed or repaired until a permit authorizing such construction, reconstruction or repair has been obtained from the building department. No such permit shall be issued for any new construction or improvement or repair to an existing improvement or structure which is deemed, by the director of the building department to be subs...
Flood Elevation Requirements
New construction and substantial improvements in Miami's special flood hazard areas must elevate the lowest floor to the base flood elevation plus one foot of freeboard, per the city's flood damage prevention chapter.
Miami Flood Elevation: One-Foot Freeboard
Some RestrictionsMiami Code of Ordinances § 20-4(a)
(a)No new construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure shall be permitted in special flood hazard areas, and no permit referred to in section 20-3 of this chapter shall be issued therefor, unless said new construction or substantial improvement has the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to or above the level of the base flood elevation (100-year flood) plus one f...
Looking for Miami-Dade County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Miami city rules.
Environmental Rules in Miami-Dade County →